Synonyms of abortive

abortive

adjective

ə-ˈbȯr-tiv 

as in unsuccessful

producing no results

an abortive attempt to recover the sunken pirate ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unsuccessful
• futile
• useless
• in vain
• unavailing
• fruitless
• unprofitable
• vain
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• unproductive
• insufficient
• bootless
• impossible
• profitless
• no dice
• worthless
• of no avail
• not worth the candle
• inadequate
• otiose
• inefficacious
• barren
• meaningless
• empty
• lost
• pointless
• hollow
• idle
• valueless
• hopeless
• lacking
• counterproductive
• unattainable
• no-win
• wanting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• successful
• effective
• efficient
• profitable
• productive
• fruitful
• deadly
• virtuous
• potent
• meaningful
• worthwhile
• adequate
• sufficient
• effectual
• efficacious
• practical
• feasible
• applicable
• functional
• workable
• usable
• practicable
• useable
• realizable

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of abortive

The people with transient and abortive responses developed a quick immune response—built up within about one day—inside their noses. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2024

The Failure of Union: Central America, 1824-1960 A study of the abortive efforts by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to form some type of larger federal union. —Henry L. Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024

As China has repeatedly made clear as far back as former President Donald Trump’s abortive attempt to force a TikTok sale, that divestiture isn’t going to happen—Beijing would block any sale. —David Meyer, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024

His stoking of culture wars pleased the GOP base but sometimes fizzled as policy, such as abortive efforts to create a tip line for parents to complain about teachers and principals and a rewrite of state history standards that was widely criticized as racially insensitive and inaccurate. —Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024